Morristown’s Santi good luck charm for Mexico in World Cup?

Maybe the Mexican soccer team should keep Santiago Rios around a little longer in Moscow.

Santiago Rios, 10, of Morristown attended the FIFA World Cup in Moscow. The Alexander Hamilton Elementary School 4th grader won a McDonald’s contest with a video of his original soccer handshake. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

The Morristown 4th grader, winner of a U.S. contest, was a player escort in ceremonies prior to Sunday’s 1-0 Mexican upset of Germany, the 2014 champion, in the opening round of the FIFA World Cup.

“Santi was ok at the game… but a little sad because he likes Germany,” said his mother, Paola Guarin, who watched on TV from Morristown.

Final scores aside, Santi and his dad, Geovanni Rios, have been “enjoying every minute” of their visit to Russia, including a tour of Moscow, Guarin said.

The 4th grader from the Alexander Hamilton Elementary School and his father had submitted a video of their original soccer handshake to win a McDonald’s contest for young Spanish-speaking fans.

Was Santi a factor in the Mexico victory?

“Yes, I think he was the lucky charm,” said the proud mom.

Santiago Rios, a 4th grader at the Alexander Hamilton Elementary School, won a contest to attend the World Cup in Moscow. He was a player escort for Mexico, before its 1-0 upset of World Champion Germany. Photo courtesy of the Rio family.

If you’ve read this far… you clearly value your local news. Now we need your help to keep producing the local coverage you depend on! More people are reading Morristown Green than ever. But costs keep rising. Reporting the news takes time, money and hard work. We do it because we, like you, believe an informed citizenry is vital to a healthy community.